Fiber optic connector

ABSTRACT

A connector for terminating optical fibers. The connector includes first and second housing portions for mating with each other. When the optical fiber is inserted into the first housing portion, a strain is pre-applied to the optical fiber. The second housing portion includes a blade such that when the first and second housing portions mate, the blade cleaves the optical fiber without additional preparation of the fiber, for example, without removal of a portion of the buffer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector for optical fibers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various applications employ optical fibers for data transmission,including Local Area Networks (LANs), industrial plants, automobiles andaerospace. Typically, these optical fibers are constructed of glass witha polymeric buffer sheath. In order to form a connection between thefibers, and between the fibers and electro-optical devices, the bufferis stripped and the optical fiber must then be carefully cleaved andpolished in order to form an acceptable connection. A separate cleavingtool and/or polishing device is often required which may be costly orrequire training to terminate the optical fiber. Additionally, thecleaving tool or polishing device may be misplaced or otherwiseunavailable at the time of termination. It is a time consuming andcraft-sensitive process to cleave and polish the optical fiber forconnection into existing connectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] I have developed a connector which is economical and easy toinstall. The connector includes first and second housing portions formating with each other. When the optical fiber is inserted into thefirst housing portion, a strain is pre-applied to the optical fiber. Thesecond housing portion includes a blade such that when the first andsecond housing portions mate, the blade cleaves the strained opticalfiber without additional preparation of the fiber, for example, withoutthe need for removal of a portion of the buffer.

[0004] One aspect of the invention comprises a fiber optic connectorcomprising:

[0005] first and second housing portions for mating with each other;

[0006] means for positioning an optical fiber in said first housingportion; and

[0007] a blade housed in said second housing portion, said blade beingconfigured for cleaving the optical fiber when said first and secondhousing portions are mated.

[0008] Another aspect of the invention comprises a method ofinterconnecting optical fibers comprising:

[0009] inserting said fiber into a first housing portion;

[0010] positioning said fiber around a curvature formed on said firsthousing portion to strain said fiber; and

[0011] mating a second housing portion with said first housing portion;

[0012] cleaving said optical fiber with a blade positioned in saidsecond housing portion, said fiber strain being partially relieved bysaid cleaving; and

[0013] receiving said fiber into a groove in said second housingportion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates portions of the connector of the presentinvention including an optical fiber prior to initial mating of thehousing portions.

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates the connector of the present invention as thehousing portions are mating, immediately prior to cleaving of the fiber.

[0016]FIG. 3 illustrates the connector of the present invention uponcleaving of the fiber.

[0017]FIG. 4 illustrates the connector of the present invention uponbeing fully mated after cleaving of the fiber.

[0018]FIG. 5 illustrates the connector of the present invention afterdemating of the housing portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, an optical fiber is cleaved upon mating of two portions of aconnector. The optical fiber is typically a glass fiber having apolymeric buffer surrounding the core. The optical fiber is terminatedwithout additional preparation, such as removing the buffer prior tomating of the connector portions.

[0020] The connector includes first and second housing portions thatmate with each other. The optical fiber is received by the first housingportion and a pre-strain is applied to the optical fiber to facilitatecleaving. The second housing portion includes a blade and is mated withthe first housing portion. The blade cleaves the optical fibers as thefirst and second housing portions mate. In the preferred embodiment, theblade is received in a slot formed in the first housing portion.

[0021] The optical fiber is inserted into the first housing portion andpositioned such that the strain is created by wrapping the fiber arounda curvature formed on the first housing portion. The curvature is of apre-defined radius which properly strains and positions the opticalfiber. To further aid in accurately positioning the optical fiber, adetent or serpentine path may be provided in the first housing portion.Because the optical fiber is cleaved while under strain, the resultantcleaved fiber has a clean face which need not be polished or otherwisefinished to form an acceptable optical connection.

[0022] Once the fiber is inserted into the first housing portion, it ispreferably sized to avoid an excessive fiber trail. Excess fiber isremoved by wrapping the fiber around a radius formed on an edge of thefirst housing portion. The radius is sized small enough to shatter theoptical fiber and facilitate breaking off of the excess fiber as thefiber is wrapped around the radius. The radius is formed on an edge ofthe first housing portion so that, when excess fiber is removed, aportion of the fiber still extends beyond the slot formed in the firsthousing portion.

[0023] The first housing portion is preferably a male connector portionwhich slides into the second housing portion, preferably a femaleconnector portion. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention,the second housing portion could be a male connector portion and thefirst housing portion could be a female connector portion. It is withinthe scope of the present invention to provide a connector which need notinclude male-female connector housing portions, but, rather, may includeany other type of pairs of housing portions which mate.

[0024] The first and second housing portions are capable of being matedand demated multiple times. As will be described below, the bladeengages the optical fiber only during the first mating cycle with aparticular optical fiber. In subsequent matings, the optical fiber isclear of the blade as the first and second housings mate.

[0025] The blade can be permanently affixed to the second housingportion, or may be removable and/or replaceable. The blade is preferablya carbide blade having an angle of between about 40 and 75°, preferablybetween 55 and 75°, more preferably about 60°.

[0026] A second detent may be disposed on the first housing portion forlocating the fiber after cleaving. A groove may also be formed in thesecond housing portion for aiding in precisely locating the opticalfiber. When strain is removed from a bent optical fiber, it tends toreturn to a straightened condition. Once the fiber is cleaved, strain isrelieved and the fiber moves away from the curvature formed on the firsthousing portion, straightening and moving into a position held by thesecond detent on the first housing portion. The optical fiber is alsothen received in the groove formed in the second housing portion. Whencleaved and straightened, the fiber clears the slot such that, upondemating and subsequent re-mating of the first and second housingportions, the blade will not engage the particular fiber (which hasalready been cleaved) a second time. It is noted that another opticalfiber, or the same optical fiber reinserted into the first housingportion, may again be cleaved when the first and second housing portionsmate.

[0027] The connector preferably includes fiber debris retention meansfor retaining the end of the fiber that is cleaved. The fiber debrisretention means may be in the form of a pocket or recess formed in thesecond housing portion or gripping means formed in first housingportion.

[0028] For applications in which vibration or other stress on theconnector is anticipated, it may be desirable to include a releasablelocking mechanism for maintaining the first and second housing portionsin their mated condition. The locking mechanism may be a snap-fit orother mechanism.

[0029] The second housing portion is preferably optically functional;however, it may be employed only to cleave the fiber. In the case of anoptically non-functional second housing portion, the opticallynon-functional second housing portion would thereafter be replaced by anoptically functional second housing portion. The opticallynon-functional second housing portion and the optically functionalsecond housing portion are formed from the same mold, the onlysignificant difference being that the functional housing portionincludes components for forming a connection between fibers or betweenfibers and an electro-optical device.

[0030] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a connector 2including first housing portion 4 and second housing portion 6. Anoptical fiber 8 is inserted into first housing portion 4 through opening9 and wrapped around curvature 10. Optical fiber 8 is received by detent12 and/or a serpentine path, if provided in first housing portion 4. Thefiber 8 is sized by being wrapped around radius 14 and shattered. Thefiber extends beyond slot 16 formed in first housing portion 4.

[0031]FIG. 2 illustrates first and second housing portions 4, 6 as theyare in the process of being mated by sliding first housing portion 4into second housing portion 6. As blade 20 encounters optical fiber 8,the fiber is cleaved, strain is relieved and the fiber begins tostraighten, as seen in FIG. 3. Upon straightening, fiber 8 clears slot16. Detent 18 catches and locates fiber 8. As housing portions 4, 6 arefully mated, groove 22 engages and more precisely locates fiber 8. (SeeFIG. 4.) Fiber debris retention means catches waste section 15 of fiber8 so that the waste section does not interfere with the connection or asliver of fiber does not injure an operator or user of the connector.

[0032] A connection between fiber 8 and an electro-optical device oranother fiber is made at the location shown by device 24. In theembodiment in which an optically non-functional second housing portionhas been employed, the second housing is removed and replaced with anoptically functional second housing portion that has a molded bodysubstantially identical in configuration to the opticallynon-functioning housing portion.

[0033] First and second housing portions 4, 6 are capable of being matedand demated multiple times. FIG. 5 shows connector 2 demated, afterfiber 8 has been cleaved and clears slot 16. Blade 20 engages the fiberonly during the first mating cycle with a particular optical fiber. Insubsequent matings, fiber 8 is clear of blade 20 as the first and secondhousings 4, 6 mate.

[0034] Variations and modifications can be made to the preferredembodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope ofthe present invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fiber optic connector comprising: first andsecond housing portions for mating with each other; means forpositioning an optical fiber in said first housing portion; and a bladehoused in said second housing portion, said blade being configured forcleaving the optical fiber when said first and second housing portionsare mated.
 2. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid blade is permanently affixed to said second housing portion.
 3. Thefiber optic connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said blade cleavesthe optical fiber through a buffer.
 4. The fiber optic connector asdefined in claim 1 wherein said means for positioning the optical fibercomprises a curvature formed on said first housing portion.
 5. The fiberoptic connector as defined in claim 4 wherein said curvature provides apredefined radius.
 6. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim 1wherein said connector is capable of being mated and demated multipletimes.
 7. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim 6 wherein saidblade engages the optical fiber only during the first mating cycle forconnection with a particular optical fiber.
 8. The fiber optic connectoras defined in claim 1 further comprising fiber debris retention means.9. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim 1 further comprisingmeans for locating the optical fiber after cleaving.
 10. The fiber opticconnector as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for locating theoptical fiber comprises a groove disposed in said second housingportion.
 11. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim 10 whereinsaid means for locating further comprises a detent disposed in saidfirst housing portion.
 12. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim1 further comprising means for sizing the optical fiber including aradius formed on the first housing portion of a size small enough toshatter the optical fiber as the fiber is wrapped around the radius. 13.A method of interconnecting optical fibers comprising: inserting saidfiber into a first housing portion; positioning said fiber around acurvature formed on said first housing portion to strain said fiber; andmating a second housing portion with said first housing portion;cleaving said optical fiber with a blade positioned in said secondhousing portion, said fiber strain being partially relieved by saidcleaving; and receiving said fiber into a groove in said second housingportion.
 14. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim 13 whereinthe step of cleaving comprises cleaving the optical fiber through abuffer.
 15. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim 13 wherein theconnector is capable of being mated and demated multiple times.
 16. Thefiber optic connector as defined in claim 13 wherein said blade engagesthe fiber only during the first mating cycle for connection with aparticular optical fiber.
 17. The fiber optic connector as defined inclaim 13 further comprises the step of retaining the end of the fibercleaved within the connector.
 18. The fiber optic connector as definedin claim 13 further comprises the step of locating the optical fiberafter cleaving.
 19. The fiber optic connector as defined in claim 18wherein the step of breaking off includes wrapping the optical fiberaround a radius formed on the first housing portion sized small enoughto shatter the optical fiber.